Thunder Protection System in Bangladesh
Thundering. One of the most beautiful in nature. Beautiful in the sense that such a scene does not fall in the eyes of the people all the time of the year. Only in this monsoon season do we see ‘thunderstorms’ known as thunderstorms. The roar of thunder and the dazzling sparks in the sky give the message of drizzle. Just when the dry nature of winter behaves harshly, the rain comes with the roar of thunder. Although this thunderbolt has become a cause of panic lately, it is quite enjoyable for many. Many people are startled and laugh when they hear the call of lightning that suddenly illuminates the world covered with thick black clouds.
At present, the number of deaths due to lightning in Bangladesh is increasing. News of death is coming every day in different parts of the country. In the four months from March to June 2021, 18 people were killed in lightning strikes across the country. At least 48 people were injured at the same time. The death toll in Chapainawabganj, Jamalapur, Netrokona and Chittagong has risen. However, Sirajganj has been identified as a hotspot. But why this lightning? What is it to do? And what to do to get rid of it? Today we giving known and unknown information of those innumerable questions.
Misconceptions about Thundering
In fact, most of us have misconceptions about lightning. We have learned since childhood that lightning strikes clouds. But that is not the case. Many may get angry when they hear this. But really so. It is basically a charge. Lightning is actually caused by ionized water particles. However, scientists have different views on the cause of water ionization.
The most accepted doctrine about Thundering
When surface water evaporates, water vapor collides with the heavier part of the cloud. As a result, many water particles give up electrons and become positively charged and many water particles accept those electrons and become negatively charged.
How Created Thundering ?
– Between the positive and negative charges of the same cloud.
– The negative charge of one cloud with the positive charge of another cloud, and the negative charge of that cloud with the positive charge of another cloud.
– Between the positive charge of the cloud and the ground (this is called cloud to ground discharging).
When this charged water vapor turns into a cloud, a huge amount of static electricity is generated in the cloud. At this time a relatively light positive charge is above the cloud and a relatively heavy negative charge is below. The discharge process begins when the amount of these two opposite charges in the cloud is sufficient.
Discharging causes an electric spark to flow through the air. The flow of this electric spark is ‘lightning’. But not all lightning strikes. Only cloud-to-ground discharges cause lightning to fall to the surface. ‘
The question may be – wind is non-conductive, so how does an electric spark flow through?
Wind power is non-conductive, that’s right, but the static electricity in the clouds produces up to 10 million volts of energy, which ionizes a portion of the wind. Charge flows through this ionized conductive part.
The cause of light and sound during Thundering
The light we see during thundering is basically the intense light radiated from the ionized atoms of this narrow channel. During the construction of these narrow, ionized and electrically conductive channels, the air temperature rises to about 26,000 ° C and the pressure rises to about 10-100 times. But this whole thing happens in a fraction of a thousandth of a second. This change expands the surrounding air like an explosion at high speed. This produces loud noises. This is the sound we hear as the sound of lightning.
Although the combined charge of the earth is zero (0), it is assumed that there are different charges on the surface and center of the earth. There is intense pressure and heat in the center of the earth. We know that the electrons in the atoms of a substance absorb heat and move from low energy to high energy, and when the heat is too high, it separates from the orbit. As a result, the atom becomes a positive charge. The same thing happens when the temperature in the center of the earth is much higher. As a result, the center of the earth has a positive charge and the atom of an object at or slightly below the earth’s surface receives that electron and becomes a negative charge. With this negative charge, the positive charge of the upper surface of the cloud descends to the surface to complete the discharge process.
The power of Thundering
Thundering at a distance of 3 miles from the ground produces 1 billion to 10 billion joules of energy. The unit of measurement of electrical energy is ‘Kilowatt / Hour’. As such, the power is 26,640 kWh. In Bangladesh, an average household consumes about 100-150 units (kilowatt-hours) of electricity per month. This means that if a thunderstorm can store electricity, a family can use it for free for 175 months or, for about 15 years.
If you want, you can also take the opportunity to use electricity for free by trapping lightning. However, in that case you will have less than a second to strike the lightning. Because, the whole process of lightning occurs in less than a second. However, scientists are not sitting still. Scientists have become enthusiastic about using the huge amount of electrical energy generated from lightning for various purposes and are carrying out various researches to make it a reality. In our country, most of the people affected by lightning are farmers, who go to the field to put food in everyone’s mouth. And he died there. But experts have always said that there is no alternative to staying at home during storms and rains. The government of our country has declared lightning as a disaster in 2017.
According to those who are doing research on thunder Protection System in Bangladesh, the main reason for lightning in Bangladesh is the geographical location of the country. On one side of Bangladesh is the Bay of Bengal, then the Indian Ocean. Hot and humid air is coming from there. To the north is the mountainous region, and in the distance is the Himalayas, from where cold winds blow. The combination of these two winds is creating a favorable environment for lightning.
The main reason for the increase in the number of deaths due to thundering in the country is indifference, neglect, neglect. According to Gowher Naeem Wahara, member secretary of the Foundation for Disaster Forum, an organization that has been researching lightning for a long time, ordinary people die due to this neglect. According to him, since policy makers at any level do not fall prey to lightning, it is less difficult to deal with. He said, ‘Lightning but overall beneficial. We just have to avoid death. It contributes to the fertility of the land. ‘Experts say that in order to reduce the loss of life due to lightning, none of the measures that need to be taken are working properly in the country. This mistake started from the forecast of the Meteorological Department itself.
Thunder Protection Syatem in Bangladesh
The first of the three steps to avoid lightning is predicted. However, the senior meteorologist of the Meteorological Department said. According to Abdul Mannan, the way the Meteorological Department currently forecasts is not very effective. “Because we say in 24 hours, there could be thunderstorms or rain with thunderstorms in this area,” he said. It is a difficult task for Bangladesh to decide what time it will be from now on. ‘He thinks that people do not listen to such warnings. He added, “Although there is some information on our website specifying the time and place, we are not spending enough time to explain it to the general public, nor is it being done from any sector.” Due to which many people do not know whether there is a weather forecast. However, at present it is not possible to say exactly.He said this matter of immediate alert is called nookasting.
“A lot of high technology is needed for this kind of frequency management,” he said. A powerful competition is needed, as well as skilled people. These types of predictions can be made by connecting them. Then we have to build a network in the area to spread the news and people have to respond. ‘ “Forecasting technology is not effective in our case,” he said. We need a strong radar network and a satellite network. In order to get accurate forecasts, satellite technology needs to be developed along with radar. ‘ According to Gowher Naeem Wahara, member secretary of the Foundation for Disaster Forum, ‘Once upon a time, there were trees in the fields in our villages. But we have cut down these trees. Be it palm tree or any other tree. These trees have to be replanted. ‘
He said, ‘The government has taken initiative to plant palm trees. But that tree is being planted on the side of the road. Nothing will happen with it. Fast growing trees should be planted. The place to plant should be in the middle of the bill. In the middle of the open space. Only then will it be able to reduce death by lightning. ‘
Directions of the Department of Health
Lightning is an accident that is extremely difficult to prevent thunder protection system in Bangladesh. If (lightning) happens then many people may die. Lightning usually occurs from April to June. Professor Robed Amin has instructed to take some precautions to avoid deaths and injuries due to lightning. These are:
- Thunderstorms usually last 30-35 minutes. Stay at home during this time. If you need to go out of the house in case of emergency, wear rubber shoes, it will protect you from thunderstorms.
- If you are in a paddy field or open field during a thunderstorm, you have to sit down with the weight on your toes and fingers on your ears.
- If there is a risk of lightning, take shelter under a building or concrete tent as soon as possible. Do not go on the roof of the building or on the high ground.
- The child should be kept away from any kind of sports during lightning, should be kept indoors.
- If there are tall plants, electric poles, metal objects or mobile towers in the empty space, do not stay near it. It is dangerous to be under a tree during a thunderstorm.
- You should not go fishing in a boat without a tent during a thunderstorm. If you are in the sea or river, you have to stop fishing and take shelter under the boat tent.
- If someone is inside the car, the body cannot be connected to the metal part of the car.
Which is important to do:
- 15 minutes before the thunderstorm, the Meteorological Department can know in which areas there will be thunderstorms. It should be communicated to all the people in the area in the form of mobile messages.
- Shelters should be constructed in the field, haor, baore or vacant agricultural work area. Thunder protection system in Bangladesh should be placed on top of it so that farmers can take shelter there during lightning strikes.
- In case of import from abroad, duty on all products of Thunder Protection System in Bangladesh should be waived.
- Official notification should be issued to announce the installation of house-to-house thunder Protection System.
- Design of any new building cannot be approved unless lightning protection / Thunder protection system is attached.
